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The Great Blue Heron feeds on fish less than half the length of its bill, like Reptiles, shellfish, rodents, small birds, insects, and amphibians, The Great Blue Heron has two fishing techniques. One consists of standing motionless, with its neck extended at an to the waters surface. Only the eyes and head will move to locate the prey. If prey does not come within range after a few minutes, the heron moves a short distance. When a meal comes close enough, the heron slowly folds its neck back and moves one leg in the direction of the prey. Without any notice, its entire body unbends, and its head plunges into the water, catches the prey, and it swallows it outside the water, dropping the prey headfirst into its gullet. The second technique. The heron wades around the water until it drives a fish from its hiding place. The heron then stops and slowly stretches its neck. When the prey is in range, it uncoils its body and thrusts its head into the water after the prey. After eating, the heron resumes its walk. Should the bird fail to find sufficient food, it will fly a short distance away and resumes hunting. When the catch is too large to be gulped down immediately or has dangerous spines, it's dropped back into the water and grabs hold of it repeatedly and violently with the beak until dazed or the spine snaps. Then it's swallowed. Other techniques are used more rarely: like, when the Great Blue Herons is in flight it sometimes dives underwater catching its food; others hover above the water and submerge their heads to catch their prey; some swim in deep water and feed on fish found at or near the surface. |